EXTINCT
ANIMALS
By vihaan, Ujjval, Sabrina,
Vibhav, Israh, and Rudraksh
Index
01 What is extinction?
02 Famous extinct animals
03 Causes of extinction
04 Prehistoric extinctions
05 Recent extinctions
06 Why study extinction?
07 how to prevent extinction of animals
08 Summary
Human causes include
deforestation, pollution,
overhunting, and climate change.
These activities destroy habitats,
disrupt ecosystems, and directly
threaten species' survival, leading
to a rapid loss of biodiversity
Extinction is the complete worldwide.
disappearance of a species from What is extinction?
Earth. It occurs naturally due to
factors like climate change, natural
selection, and catastrophic events
such as asteroid impacts. However,
human-induced activities have
significantly accelerated extinction
rates in recent centuries.
Famous extinct animals
Woolly
Mammoth
Extinct animals serve as
powerful reminders of the
fragility of life on Earth. They
highlight the impact of
natural events and human The Great
activities on ecosystems Dodo Auk
over time. The loss of these
species often led to
significant ecological
changes, disrupting food Extinct animals
chains and biodiversity.
Passenger Tasmanian
Pigeon tiger
CAUSES OF
EXTINCTION
Extinction is often caused by human
activities, such as poaching, destruction of
habitats and climate change due to pollution.
Human activities change the ideal living
environment for species, in turn harming or
killing them.
Another reason that factors in is disease.
Many animals go extinct due to the fact that
they don’t have protection against unknown
diseases which can cause a huge number of
animals dying
The Caspian tiger (figure on the right), went
extinct due to both these causes. Sometimes
animals go extinct due to evolution, where
the superior species will take over its
forefather.
Caspian Tiger(Panthera tigris
virgata)- Extinct: 1970-Cause
Another major factor was the Ice Ages,
during which global cooling and habitat
loss drove species like the woolly
mammoth and saber-toothed cat to
extinction. Massive volcanic eruptions,
like those during the Triassic extinction
252 million years ago, also played a role
by releasing greenhouse gases that
Prehistoric extinctions were often caused caused environmental collapse, wiping
by natural disasters that dramatically Prehistoric extinctions out most marine and terrestrial life.
changed the Earth’s environment. One of
the most significant events was the
dinosaur’s extinction 65 million years
ago, caused by an asteroid impact near
modern-day Mexico. This event led to a
"eternal winter," where dust blocked
sunlight, drastically cooling the planet
and causing the extinction of 75% of
species.
Recent Western Black Rhinoceros
extinctions
Declared extinct in 2011, this subspecies of black
rhinoceros succumbed to poaching and habitat loss
Extinctions are happening more often due to human
actions and environmental changes. Many animals
lose their homes because of deforestation, rising sea
levels, or invasive species. Some species are unable
to survive when their habitats are damaged, while Golden Toad
others are affected by hunting or illegal wildlife
trade.
Here are some recent extinctions. A small, brightly colored amphibian that lived in
the cloud forests of Costa Rica. They went
extinct in 2004.
Po’ouli
A Hawaiian bird driven to extinction by habitat
destruction and disease in 2019.
Additionally, extinction studies raise
awareness about endangered
species and the urgent need for
conservation. By learning from past
mistakes, we can work towards a
sustainable future for both wildlife
and humans.
Why study extinction?
Studying extinction provides
essential lessons for preserving
biodiversity and maintaining
ecological balance. It helps us
understand the causes and
consequences of environmental
changes, enabling us to develop
strategies to prevent future losses.
leatherback sea
turtle
The leatherback sea turtle is also at
risk because of plastic pollution in
the ocean. Many turtles eat plastic,
thinking it’s jellyfish, which can
harm or kill them. Projects like
how to prevent cleaning up beaches and banning
Bengal tiger the extinction plastic bags have made a big
difference, allowing more baby
Of animals turtles to survive and reach
The Bengal tiger, found in India and adulthood.
Southeast Asia, is endangered
because of deforestation, which
destroys its natural habitat. To help
protect these tigers, special
reserves have been set up, and
trees are being replanted to restore
forests. These actions have helped
the tiger population grow in some
areas.
Summary
Extinction is a permanent loss with severe
ecological consequences. Iconic species like the
dodo and woolly mammoth remind us of what has
been lost. Human activities, such as habitat
destruction and overhunting, are the primary
causes of modern extinctions. Natural events like
asteroid impacts caused prehistoric losses, while
today’s extinctions are largely preventable. To
protect biodiversity, we must reduce our
environmental footprint, support conservation
efforts, and promote awareness of the importance
of ecosystems.
Thank you!
Any questions?
